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Natalie has been the Bound4LIFE Birmingham Chapter Leader since 2008. She works as a children's director and curriculum writer for the children’s ministry at her local church in Birmingham, Alabama. She’s on the leadership team for the Birmingham Prayer Furnace as a prayer leader and serves as a weekly counselor for Sav-A-Life, a local pregnancy test center. Natalie longs to teach and provoke the hearts of the next generation for Jesus’ righteousness, intercession, and justice!

Marisa Lengor Kwaning is a writer, editor and health policy analyst who resides in Washington, D.C. She has worked in public health, disaster management, as well as foreign and domestic health policy. She earned a Masters degree in Public Policy from George Mason University and currently consults at Final Draft:Writing Services.Read Posts By Marisa Lengor Kwaning

Matt is a husband and proud father of four children. He's a full-time missionary serving as the Director of Bound4LIFE and the Justice House of Prayer DC. Formerly he had a career in advertising and marketing. These days he really wishes he had paid more attention in government class.

Ellie lives in quaint Jasper, AL with her husband Andrew. They are passionate lovers of Jesus and live to share His word and love with anyone they meet. They believe the kindness of God is what brings change and are fully committed to being vessels of that kindness. Ellie loves to minister to women, to teach, to dance, to hug, and of course to hold babies.

After 10 years in communications/marketing at The Heritage Foundation and Focus on the Family, Josh M. Shepherd serves as Communications Manager at Bound4LIFE. He earned a degree in Business Marketing from the University of Colorado. Passionate about the next generation knowing the Father heart of God, Josh’s highest earthly honor is being husband to his lovely wife Terri.Read Posts By Josh M. Shepherd

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Cash for Cloture

Posted by Matt Lockett on December 21, 2009

Yeah, "Cash for Cloture" just about sums it up. The Senate voted in the wee hours of this morning on Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Reid Amdt. No. 3276 to Amdt. No. 2786 to H.R. 3590. That’s a mouthful, but it means debate is now limited on the Senate’s current health care bill. And since the vote tally was 60 to 40, there could be no filibuster.

In recent days, many backroom deals were struck in order to secure the coveted 60 YEAs. You can see how your Senator voted here. The last holdout and object of many pro-life prayers was Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska. It appears even he agreed to a special financial incentive as late as Friday night becoming the 60th vote.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid tweet’d at 7:13 AM Saturday:

"Thanks to Sen. Ben Nelson for announcing his support for the Senate health care bill, making him our 60th vote."

The details and implications of the new abortion language have been surfacing since that time. Yesterday leaders from both sides made critiquing remarks:

“I have some deep reservations with this Nelson language on first examination,” Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a co-chairwoman of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, told POLITICO on Sunday.

Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), a leading abortion opponent, said during the weekend, “While I and many other pro-life Democratic House members wish to see health care coverage for all Americans, the proposed Senate language is unacceptable.”

Most pro-life commentators are saying that Nelson "Caved" on the abortion issue.

One big change that’s come up deals with giving states the ability to "Opt Out" of covering abortions in the proposed health insurance exchange. Rather than "Opt In," this would create 50 big battles instead of just one. Also, the ongoing attempt to segregate money and payments for abortions continues to be labeled by pro-life analysts as nothing more than a thinly-veiled "shell game."

Expect a vote to pass the bill on Thursday, Christmas Eve.

About Matt Lockett

Matt is a husband and proud father of four children. He's a full-time missionary serving as the Director of Bound4LIFE and the Justice House of Prayer DC. Formerly he had a career in advertising and marketing. These days he really wishes he had paid more attention in government class.
Follow @mattlockett on Twitter.